Michael E. Shapiro reflects on his 20 years at the High Museum

Michael E. Shapiro, former director of the High Museum, returns for a visit to discuss his new book about the art of directing an art museum. In the book, “Eleven Museums, Eleven Directors: Conversations on Art and Leadership,” he interviews a cross-section of America’s curators, and describes the curious path that brings one to the job.

Not too long ago Michael E. Shapiro, the loquacious chief executive who led the High Museum through two decades of surging growth, found himself with time on his hands.

He was asked: What will you do? Where will you go? He was not concerned about the answer. “I have led, for the last 20 years, a very structured life,” said Shapiro, during a long and thoughtful interview that preceded his departure. “So it’s nice to just contemplate some reduction in that.”

Shapiro did mention one project: “One thing I’m intrigued about is how people become art museum directors.”

It is in fact a curious job: one part manager, one part aesthete, one part fund-raiser.

He mentioned his own story, and thought about interviewing other directors. It’s a small world and apparently they all know each other. There are only about 200 directors of major museums in this country.)

“I’m thinking about focusing on the role of mentors or turning points,” he said. “It could be a book.”

Shapiro’s book begins with his own story, and includes long interviews with such individuals as Maxwell Anderson, former director of the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta and Glenn D. Lowry, director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.